Red River Valley of the North Flood, 2009: April 4: News Added As I find It

"The provincial government is taking that idea to its plan for the Red River Floodway, as floodwater surges higher and threatens about 190 homes in Winnipeg, with the crest to arrive in the city possibly within six days.

"Though the floodway is not normally used to send the Red's water around Winnipeg while ice is packed around the diversion's inlet, the government said yesterday that 'unprecedented' conditions -- including possible ice jams threatening to back up water quickly -- could prompt operators to flip its switch earlier.

" 'Operations of the floodway to natural water levels would provide a benefit within six hours by 1.4 feet,' Steve Topping of the Water Stewardship Department told reporters at the legislature. 'Further operation, if warranted, would be considered should the flood risk still be imminent.'..."

I've seen the Winnipeg floodway: it's an impressive piece of engineering. I've also seen floods in the Red River Valley of the North. They're impressive, too. I sincerely hope that Winnipeg's system can handle what's coming its way.

"North Dakota surge expected Wednesday in Manitoba capital where the Red River Floodway may be opened before ice has melted"

"WINNIPEG -- When the irresistible force of a record Red River crest in the south meets the immovable object of unprecedented ice jams in the north, southern Manitoba is bound to get wet.

"That's just the scenario unfolding along the banks of the Red this spring, as a bulge of water from the Fargo, N.D., flood snakes toward stubborn dams of ice north of Winnipeg.

"The collision is so worrisome that provincial officials said yesterday that they were considering the unusual step of opening the Red River Floodway before river ice has fully melted...."

I get the uncomfortable feeling that Winnipeg's floodway was designed around the idea that the Red River of the North would have the decency to delay floodwaters until the ice had melted around Winnipeg.

That's not the way it works, generally. Since the Red River of the North flows north, the south end of its watershed generally warms up first: sending waters into the Red. A flood crest can get refreshed as it moves north. 6:10 p.m. Central "Hundreds of Manitobans work to fill sandbags to deal with floodwaters" The Canadian Press (April 4, 2009) (21 minutes ago)

"...Flood forecasters predict the Red River will crest in Winnipeg by Thursday.

"FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Staff Sgt. Matthew Mitzel has patrolled the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq, and now he's patrolled the Red River in Fargo.

" 'I'll take Fargo any day,' said Mitzel, a North Dakota National Guard member and veteran of two tours in Iraq now leading a quick-response rescue team in flood-soaked Fargo...."

"...The North Dakota guard deployed a total of about 2,000 soldiers to Fargo and surrounding areas to help with the flood fight. Minnesota sent 650 of its National Guard members to the Moorhead area, and several other Upper Midwest states pitched in with 400 more...."

"FARGO, N.D., April 3 (UPI) -- The governors of Minnesota and North Dakota Friday called for long-term flood control for the Red River as forecasters predicted a new record crest this month.

"John Hoeven of North Dakota and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota held a joint news conference in Fargo, N.D., to call for regional cooperation and federal aid, Minnesota Public Radio reported...."

Winnipeg, Manitoba, had some big flood diversion channels dug, decades back. I haven't heard what that's done to towns downstream of the city, but it's helped Winnipeg. I ran into a discussion a few days ago (can't find it now - but it's likely to be in one of the news items I've linked to) - where a diversion around Fargo was discussed. The local fellow said, essentially, that it might help Fargo, but might have a bad effect on people living downstream.

We'll see what comes of this governor-level talk. Whatever is done: I hope that someone with engineering skills and a good computer is involved. Flood-related posts:

Updated (May 23, 2010) The Lemming doesn't often revisit a topic quite this exactly: but the Varma Mansion is special. Besides, Contemp...

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About Me

I'm a sixty-something married guy with six kids, four surviving, in a small central Minnesota town.

One of the kids graduated from college in December, 2008, and is helping her husband run a factory; another is a cartoonist; #3 daughter is a writer; my son is developing a digital game with #3 and #1 daughters, and has a day job.